Dark Passion

The Vampyre's Kiss

By Danyealle (nosex, rom) 

When I wasn't with them through work I was hanging out at their bars and clubs, rubbing shoulders with the beings that so fascinated me.  Alright, I will admit to it, I was a groupie.  I didn't fawn over them and fall at their feet like some, both male and female, but I was star struck by what they were and the powers that they possessed.  Perhaps I was more jaded than the average human when it came to them since I dealt with them daily but being around them was like a drug to me, one that I kept needing to get a fix of.  Slowly, as time went on and I concentrated more and more on the vampires I was elevated to their inner circle, that is to say the Master of the City's'  inner circle.  Nightly I sat with, partied with, drank with and hung around with some of the most powerful vampires there were.  Intoxicating doesn't even come close to describing the rush I got from this.  For me, it was a lifelong dream come true, somehow or other I had gotten my life's desire.

As more and more of them began to trust me I was often included in things normal humans would never have been considered for.  Nightly I witnessed things that no human had ever lived to tell of.  Gradually I got to know the habits and personalities of some of the oldest and most powerful vampires around.  It was then that I was offered my dream job, I was to be their liaison with humans.  No longer would I be on the outside looking in but I would be on the inside with beings I almost worshiped.  There was a slight hitch to it though, the Master of the City, Raphael Kringos, would have to meet with and approve me.  Elated didn't come within the bounds of what I was feeling, it was too tame of a word!  Little old me was going to get my life long desire! 

Even After all the months of being around these beings I had never personally met Raphael.  Sure, I had seen him and said hi and the like but never had an up close and personal meet with the most powerful vampire in the city.  Yes, even I who was most comfortable around the so-called 'darklings' was nervous.  Because of my studies and what I already knew about them before hand I knew you didn't get to be Master of the City by being a nice guy.  You got that position and held it because you had power; strength gained from years of experience and an almost ruthless approach that had made your underlings afraid of and respect you.  More over, you kept that position through fear, power and intimidation.  It was not a job for someone easy going and weak.  Only the most powerful could attain that title and to hold onto it you couldn't be afraid to show your power to those around you.  Raphael had that, and more, all you had to do was be in a room with him to feel it wash over you.  I had felt it that first time I was in his presence; it was indescribable, like an electric charge, making your skin prickle.  His dark, almost black, eyes seemed to grab you and suck you into their depths, holding you there as he exerted his will on you.  To someone like me, that power coming from him was like an aphrodisiac, something intoxicating and a high unto it's self.  The night I was to finally meet him alone I was nervous but excited, like a virgin on her wedding night.  Three hours before the official time of nightfall I was up making sure I looked alright; making sure my appearance was perfect.  When I finally got to the Vampyres' Tale I was resplendent in my finest goth clothes, black knee high high-heeled boots, black skin tight jeans, black cut off t-shirt over which was a floor length black leather duster.  My make-up was flawless, dark and brooding, giving me the look I was shooting for, accenting my normal never- seeing- the- sun pallor.

Quickly I was escorted up to the top floor, to Raphael's private quarters.  It was resplendent in a dark gothic motif but had all the modern luxuries.  Josef, Raphael's' personal assistant and man Friday poured me a drink and brought me a small meal then left me alone, telling me the Master would be with me shortly.  Walking around the room, more to quiet the butterflies swarming in my stomach than to see it, I looked over all the elegant furnishings.  No expense had been spared in decorating this place; everything was original not a replica.  Finally, I found myself standing in front of a huge painting depicting a lithe man, tall and strong, leaning against an ornate gate.  The style was something I recognized from some old master or other but couldn't put a name to it.  What held me there was its realism.  It looked as if the man in the painting would momentarily stretch and move, stepping out of the into the room.  Never before had I seen a painting that was so richly life-like.  Truly, this was the work of a master painter with a great deal of skill at his art.  I was so engrossed in this piece of art that I didn't hear the door open and Raphael step in to the room.  It wasn't until he was behind me and softly spoke my name that I realized I was not alone.  With a small start I turned around and found myself face to face with the Master of the City himself, Raphael Krinkos.  Smiling down at me from his towering 6'5" height, showing no fangs, a trick the older vampires mastered to keep themselves unobtrusive, bowing slightly, he took my small hand in his and gave it a kiss. "Thrasa, for too long you and I have not been introduced, a failing on my part I'm sure, for how could I have ignored such beauty for so long."

I could feel myself blushing at his compliments, stuttering out a thank you, falling for his charm like so many before me probably had done.  More than anyone else, I was aware of and slightly immune to older vampires' old world charms and dark charisma but Raphael took me off guard so the advantage was his.  As I looked up into his dark velvet eyes, a mixture of pale gold and dark brown that somehow made them appear black and sparking, I could feel myself go weak in the knees, melting.  His longish raven black hair was tied back with what appeared to be a velvet ribbon of the richest black matching his top coat and trousers, old fashioned and gothic, something that was once again in style.  He had a longish thin nose, not beak-like or out of proportion, just slightly oversized above pale, full lips.  His pallor, like that of all the vampires I had met, was white but there were spots of color in his cheeks, an indication that he had fed before coming to meet me.  When he was human he was probably the dark, swarthy type, not overly so but in the romance novel sort of way.  Although his accent was a rich French it was apparent he was not from France but somewhere else, maybe Italy,  but it would have been presumptuous of me to ask about that.  At this point in time I was having problems just breathing, asking a probative question like that would have been beyond me.  Linking his arm through mine, he too gazed at the painting, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips, "I see you are looking at my painting.  It was a gift, from an admirer many lifetimes ago." 

It wasn't until then that I noticed the resemblance in the painting, and nodded, "They did a magnificent job, and it looks quite.", I paused for a moment, trying to think of another word besides lifelike, "realistic."

Smiling once again, fangs still hidden from view, he patted my hand.  "Indeed, I was most pleased with the end result."  Masterfully, he steered me over to the sitting area and escorted me to a chair.  Sitting across from me, he made himself comfortable in his chair, crossing his legs and smoothing down the fabric of his suit.  Locking his hands around his bent knee, he leaned back and smiled at me. "My underlings are most impressed with you Thrasa; they say your negotiating skills and manner are quite incredible.  That you are as skilled as any human they have met.  An impressive thing, you must know."

Blushing a bit, I nodded, "Thank you for the compliment.  I do try to be the best at what I do, hopefully that shows in the quality of my work."

Giving me another flashy smile, he nodded, "From what I am able to discern, you are indeed the best at what you do.  Rarely has anyone come to me so highly recommended, be it human or vampire, an impressive thing Thrasa."

I couldn't help but smile a bit, knowing a compliment like that rarely came from someone like Raphael without it being true.  "Again, thank you, from you, that is quite a compliment."

"As it was meant to be Thrasa, I do not say such things if they are not true."  Shifting around a bit in his chair his eyes locked with mine, a smile playing at his lips. 

From experience I knew he was trying to mesmerize me, to see if he could exhert control over me like vampires could over most humans.  Long ago, in college, I had learned to withstand with this and not let my mind be invaded.  Part of it was a learned thing, yes, but the mastery I had at it also came partially from me, something I was born with.  I knew this wasn't a thing to fear or be intimidated by, it was just another test of my skills, part of the job interview I guess you could say.

After a few minutes, he let it go, his smile growing bigger, "Again, I am most impressed.  Never before has a human thwarted my attempts to gain mastery of them.  It is an uncommon skill that you posses Thrasa!  A very impressive one at that."  Leaning back in his chair, he casually tossed one leg over the arm of it, foot swinging back and forth in an absent manner.  Propping his chin on his hand he looked at me, that small smile still in place.  "I will not waste either of our time by going over your credentials or work history, we both know that they are impressive and without match, even these days.  But there is one thing I am most curious about Thrasa."  He let the sentence trail off, just gazing at me, a distant look upon his face.

Shifting around slightly in my chair, my heart still beating a nervous tattoo in my chest, I said, softly, "Again, thank you Raphael.  What is it you are curious about?"  It could be any number of things, I knew.  Vampires were an odd group to deal with.  What mattered most in the 'real world' didn't seem to matter much to them.  What they cared about was often very different, so it was hard telling what he was thinking about.

 Shaking his head, he came back from where he'd wandered and once again gave me that winning smile of his, "Later, right now I don't wish to discuss it." Leaning forward in his chair, hands clasped between his knees, he looked intently at me, "Tell me Thrasa, you seem to have a respect for 'us' that few show.  To you we are not a novelty or a thrill, we have your respect.   Never once have I heard or witnessed you treat or speak to us without respect in your voice.  It is not the respect of those that wish to be one of us or one that fawn over us, it is a respect like that given to humans.  Why is that?  Can you tell me?"
Smiling slightly, I gazed at him, "That is easy; to live so many years and not have gone mad or let the time beat you down is an impressive thing that takes a strength of character and will that so few beings possess.  That in its self is an impressive thing.  Add to that your ability to retain part, small or large, of your humanity and still treat beings that are inferior to you with respect is a most impressive thing.  I respect that and give those of you who have done that the respect that they deserve.  Life, even for us humans in our short spans, is rough.  I cannot imagine how hard it is to live for centuries seeing what you have.  That has to be uncommonly hard to deal with.  Yet you do.  So I have no problem treating you with the respect that I feel you deserve.  It isn't because you are a romantic figure or because I am frightened, it is merely because what you do and are deserves respect."

The light that shown in his eyes when I answered the question told me I had scored real points with him.  It wasn't an answer designed to do that, it was the truth and he knew it.  Long ago I learned that vampires, no matter how young they may be, can sniff out a lie if you tell them one.  So, I had always adopted the policy to tell them the truth, no matter whether they may or may not like what I have to say. 

Nodding, he looked at me, "I admire the truth Thrasa, and what you have said has that ring to it.  I can see why my underlings have such regard for you."  Leaning back in his chair once again, he gazed at me, an unreadable look on his face.  After a couple minutes of silence he spoke again but this time his voice was soft, sensual like a soft flowing ribbon of the purest silk, spun soft yet strong.  "You have admired us and been enthralled with our world since you were small, yet never once have you asked to become one of us.  Never once have you even made the smallest mention of it. You were pulled to your profession because of your fascination yet not once have you made any overture to join us.  Why is that?"

Leaning back, I thought about it.  He was right, I had been enthralled for so long yet I never tried to become one of them, why?  Rather than try to formulate the answer that I thought would most please him I told him the unvarnished truth, "I don't know.  Honestly, I don't.  You are right, this has been my over-riding passion since I discovered it but never have I thought about actually becoming part of the world I have made my life's study."

Nodding, he gazed at me intently, eyes never wavering, "I believe you."  Leaning forward, putting his elbows on his knees and cupping his chin in his hands he asked, voice still silken, "Do you not see us as an exciting creatures like other humans do?  Does your closeness with us not draw you to us and make you want what we possesses and can give you?"

Sighing deeply, I looked at him and shrugged, "Yes and no.  I do see you as exciting, probably more so than the average human.  But I see it differently than they do.  More from the perspective of your society and how it is run, how all of you exist and live rather than like a normal human, drawn to you by your difference and its exotic nature.  And, what I get from you now is enough to satisfy me.  I don't need more than that."

In the blink of an eye he was out of his chair and kneeling before mine, eyes locked intently on mine.  Most humans could not see when a vampire moved this fast but I could, not because of any special ability, more because I was used to it and saw it on a regular basis.  Gently, he caressed two fingers lightly down my cheek, making me shiver slightly.  Leaning forward, putting his cheek on mine, he whispered in my ear, softly, "Do you not find us erotic and sensual like others do?  Does that not excite you Thrasa?  Does that not make you want us more, want to be with us, want what we can give you?"

Shivering slightly I let out a soft breath, feeling my skin tingle from his closeness, the power that he radiated dancing over it like a soft feather dragging gently against me. After taking a moment to compose myself I said, quietly, "I do find you sensual and erotic.  But not because of what you are, it is more from your manners and how you treat me, that old world courtliness that seems to no longer exist.  You show me respect and courtesy that has been lost with the ages.  Yes, I admit, that is exciting and erotic, maybe more exciting to me than what you are."  My heart was beating rapidly as he touched me; his closeness and power swirling around me, making me tingle and shiver.  It wasn't just his being a vampire; it was who he was, his whole personality. 

Drawing back slightly, he looked me in the eyes, gaze strong and piercing, his hand still touching my cheek, cold fingers trailing down it, making me feel his power, making me feel how strong he was and giving me a hint of what it was like to be one of them.  Softly, like a puff of breeze, he said, words wrapping themselves around me like a lover's caress, "Do you know the power you have Thrasa?  Do you realize that if you became one of us, kindred, how strong you would be?  Never in several centuries have I met anyone with the potential you have.  In time, if you were to cross over, you could rival my own power.  Others would both fear and respect you; you could have anything you wished."

Shivering slightly, I could not pull my gaze from his.  My mouth was dry as a desert and I was shivering, not from fear or his touch but from something I could not put my finger on.  Was he offering to bring me across?  Was he offering me power?  Is that what I truly wanted?  Was I strong enough to handle it and all that came along with it?  My mind raced over all of it, thinking, wondering, but unable to decided what I thought or if it was what I wanted.  I sat there, gazing at him, unable to look away. 

Rocking back on his heels, he drew his hand away from me, seeming to sense my confusion, smiling at me.  "Be mine Thrasa, be mine and share my power.  Together we would be unrivaled in this world.  Together, nothing could defeat us.  Let me bring you across so that you can fulfill your potential and possess what should be rightfully yours."

Still, I couldn't speak, my tongue glued to the roof of my mouth.  Gazing into those eyes I could see that this was not some test or trick, that he wanted me to be with him.  What did I think of that?  I didn't know.  Was I willing to give up being human?  To give up the daylight, food, all that I had ever known and taken for granted?  Was it worth it?  If Raphael truly wanted to he could force the diction on me; for someone with his power that was easy enough.  But he wasn't, he was giving me a choice.  Never had I had the illusions about vampires most humans did, I knew exactly what they were, a walking, animated corpse with no soul.  That was the brutal, honest truth about them, one they would never deny.  But there was more to them than that, much more.  The power and mystique around them was there for a reason, in trading life and so many human luxuries they got things we could never dream of, life everlasting.  Not the empty promise of religions; that promise that if you do good things, you will be rewarded after you die, but a tangible truth of true life after death.  An existence that went on and on, not a myth or fable no one could prove.  Also, power that as humans we could never know.  It was intriguing, no two ways about that!  But did I want that?  Was the sacrifice worth what may come after?

In my confusion and debate I gazed deeply into his eyes, losing myself in their depths.  There was a promise in them, a promise of what I could be if I acquiesced to his wishes.  It was then that I let my heart, not brain, answer, a soft lingering "Yes" slipping from my lips, breathy and without strength.